Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts. They evaluate a person’s health and nutritional needs and come up with plans to meet those needs. RDNs help healthcare providers by providing a patient treatment plan that may include the following:

Ideal body weight, calorie needs, and dietary needs

Foods that help ease swallowing

Special diets

Dietary changes that need to be made due to a disability

Tube feeding formulas and schedules for people who can’t swallow

Patient and family education on nutrition topics linked to diseases, such as diabetes

RDNs may practice in different settings, including:

Hospitals

Inpatient rehabilitation centers

Home health settings

Private practice

School districts

Community or government nutrition programs

RDNs hold an undergraduate degree, have completed an approved internship program, and have passed a national exam to be credentialed as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Many have also earned a master's degree in dietetics or nutrition science.